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Lockssmart wrote:
I am sick to death of swerving out the way for cyclists with no road sense. They very rarely indicate what their intentions are. Most jump red lights and the really stupid ones cycle wearing ipods.

Why is that a problem?

I find the biggest cause for being unable to hear what is happening is car stereos blazing away!"

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Call to make cycling safer in Southampton

A 20MPH speed limit, segregated cycle lanes and a ban on huge lorries – all are vital to make cycling in Southampton city centre safer.

That’s the call from a local pressure group ahead of a parliamentary debate tomorrow.

And as the membership of Southampton Cycling Campaign soars, the group is also pleased that talks with the city council are proving successful.

After growing national pressure, the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling has secured a three-hour debate at Westminster Hall tomorrow. It will give MPs the chance to put forward safety
measures for consideration by the Government.

“We are absolutely delighted that the debate is happening,” said Dilys Gartside, spokeswoman for Southampton Cycling Campaign.

“Our MP, Alan Whitehead, has always been very supportive of these sorts of initiatives and I suspect he’s been inundated because all of the local
cycling groups have been lobbying him to attend on Thursday.”

Meanwhile, an Early Day Motion tabled by Cambridge MP Julian Huppert, signed by over 35 MPs, expresses concern about a seven per cent rise in the number of cyclists killed on Britain’s roads.

The petition “calls on the Government to take further action to improve cycling infrastructure and reduce the number of casualties on roads.”

In Southampton, the city is looking to spend £2m on cycle routes and provision in the next year.

While Ms Gartside says Southampton has “certainly got a long way to go” in terms of cycling safety, she says she is encouraged by talks with the city council.

“I’m very excited about what’s happening in Southampton now and I’m even more excited that groups like ours are being listened to at last.”

“We’ve been going for decades but in even the last year our membership has rocketed. Our meetings that would be attended by six or seven hardcore members, are now being attended by around 25

Cycling Facts

• 42 per cent of Brits own a bike.

• 3.1bn miles were cycled in Britain in 2010.

• 111 cyclists were killed on Britain’s roads in 2010, up seven per cent on 2009.